Buying a new suit
Discussion
Hi all, time for a new suit. Although I don't wear them very often and mine looks OK the trousers are now beyond tight and there is no way I can continue to convince myself they fit!
So, looking for something od decent quality, not too trendy but not too boring, in a dark grey without any big stripes. Preferably with a waistcoat too, have always like 3-pcs.
Budget is 200 quid-ish, up to 250 absolute max. Yeah, I know it's not much, but I wear it maybe 10 times a year?
Have checked out the usual suspects (M&S, Next) with limited success. Any thoughts from the PH massive?
So, looking for something od decent quality, not too trendy but not too boring, in a dark grey without any big stripes. Preferably with a waistcoat too, have always like 3-pcs.
Budget is 200 quid-ish, up to 250 absolute max. Yeah, I know it's not much, but I wear it maybe 10 times a year?
Have checked out the usual suspects (M&S, Next) with limited success. Any thoughts from the PH massive?
Personally i always go to Burtons. They always seem to be good honest value to me, and i couldn't give a shit what name is printed on the label. I always get positive comments whenever i'm suited up aswell, so i'd fully reccomend a visit. Although i find it's a good idea to get to the shop dead early in the morning so i can avoid the crowds, then i can get the attention and opinions of the shop staff.
Cheers,
Rob.
Cheers,
Rob.
Zara have some nice suits but you have to be a very particular shape to wear them. Personally I'm just about to book a fitting with www.raja-fashions.com to get one made for me because they look to be any more expensive than a good high street suit.
I recently got a suit from T M Lewins for £200
Blue with a subtle stripe but they do a grey if you like. Only 2 piece, no waistcoat
www.tmlewin.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/lewin/suits.html
Ignore the price on the site, they have a constant sale and I have vouchers to get the suit for £200 if you want one.
Blue with a subtle stripe but they do a grey if you like. Only 2 piece, no waistcoat
www.tmlewin.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/lewin/suits.html
Ignore the price on the site, they have a constant sale and I have vouchers to get the suit for £200 if you want one.
thebluemonkey said:
Zara have some nice suits but you have to be a very particular shape to wear them. Personally I'm just about to book a fitting with www.raja-fashions.com to get one made for me because they look to be any more expensive than a good high street suit.
I will have to check this out
any idea how much you would normally expect to pay?D_Mike said:
I will have to check this out
Well they say that a suit starts at $250 (so say £200 in the country) but I would imagine that once you add a decent fabric, hand stitched button holes and the rest you are probably looking at about $700 which considering a suit from the high street could easily set you back that much I think it looks like a bargain. I'll know for sure mid September.
I wear suits all day long in my day job and have about 20 different suits of all types of budget. On a budget of £200.00 (and believe me you will not require all of that), you cannot fault the current range of M & S suits.
If you only have one suit and don't wear it that often, go for the Collezione Single Breasted 3 Button Pure New Wool suit.
If you wear the suit often, but only want to invest in one suit, go for the machine washable suit and buy a second pair of trousers.
If you only have one suit and don't wear it that often, go for the Collezione Single Breasted 3 Button Pure New Wool suit.
If you wear the suit often, but only want to invest in one suit, go for the machine washable suit and buy a second pair of trousers.
Its worth looking in Suits You, if theres one near you.
Couple of good cuts if your a medium build are Berwin & Berwin and Chester Barrie (think its ie)
I have a Pinstripe navy Berwin & Berwin, 2B SB with a single vent that looks the nuts and easily £6-700 worth. It was £300 I think. I know thats over your budget but they are real good quality and will last a good 18 months of solid wear. Mine still looks good and I use a dry cleaners that costs about £3 so it must be pretty tough.
Wouldn't bother with Designer stuff. I have paid for YSL and Ted Baker before and they tend to fall apart after a few months. Yeah they look great in the changing room but suits are a practical thing.
Having said that, Armand Basi make some very nice lightweight suits that I love. If its for casual wear, I'd look at one of those but your looking at about £450
Make sure you buy the trousers over long and have a seamstress or tailor put the hem in like Army officers wear, it tapers front to back, so you get a really nice break at the front of your leg, and they sit just on the heel at the back. Otherwise you end up with a compromise that flaps round your ankles or sweeps on the floor. Trust me its worth an extra tenner. Most shops offer alterations but I wouldn't trust them. Most peoples legs are different lengths and they will not look right if both legs are cut the same.
Or maybe I'm just a tart
Hope it helps
Couple of good cuts if your a medium build are Berwin & Berwin and Chester Barrie (think its ie)
I have a Pinstripe navy Berwin & Berwin, 2B SB with a single vent that looks the nuts and easily £6-700 worth. It was £300 I think. I know thats over your budget but they are real good quality and will last a good 18 months of solid wear. Mine still looks good and I use a dry cleaners that costs about £3 so it must be pretty tough.
Wouldn't bother with Designer stuff. I have paid for YSL and Ted Baker before and they tend to fall apart after a few months. Yeah they look great in the changing room but suits are a practical thing.
Having said that, Armand Basi make some very nice lightweight suits that I love. If its for casual wear, I'd look at one of those but your looking at about £450
Make sure you buy the trousers over long and have a seamstress or tailor put the hem in like Army officers wear, it tapers front to back, so you get a really nice break at the front of your leg, and they sit just on the heel at the back. Otherwise you end up with a compromise that flaps round your ankles or sweeps on the floor. Trust me its worth an extra tenner. Most shops offer alterations but I wouldn't trust them. Most peoples legs are different lengths and they will not look right if both legs are cut the same.
Or maybe I'm just a tart
Hope it helps
Mr Bling said:
I wear suits all day long in my day job and have about 20 different suits of all types of budget. On a budget of £200.00 (and believe me you will not require all of that), you cannot fault the current range of M & S suits.
If you only have one suit and don't wear it that often, go for the Collezione Single Breasted 3 Button Pure New Wool suit.
If you wear the suit often, but only want to invest in one suit, go for the machine washable suit and buy a second pair of trousers.
The M&S medium & top range suits often are cut on the same block as the base ranges of more expensive "names" - Boss & Armani to name a couple. In most cases the quality specs from M&S are higher than the more premium brands.
Unfortunately I don't fit the M&S jacket cut but if I did I would save myself the pain of having to fork out £400 more for a decent suit.
bga said:
The M&S medium & top range suits often are cut on the same block as the base ranges of more expensive "names" - Boss & Armani to name a couple. In most cases the quality specs from M&S are higher than the more premium brands.
Suits used to confuse the hell out of me. If one make fits, why doesn't another in the same size? But if that wasn't so some people wouldn't find any that fitted.
Unfortunately like me, I see you have to buy more expensive names to get the cut.
Absolutely aching to have a bespoke tailor made suit though... ticket pockets, plum lining the works
KingRichard said:
Absolutely aching to have a bespoke tailor made suit though... ticket pockets, plum lining the works
Oh yes!
got a fitting session in a couple of weeks in a place in Brighton, not bespoke so to speak but made to measure with lots of options. Can't wait to try the finished article.
bga said:
Absolutely aching to have a bespoke tailor made suit though... ticket pockets, plum lining the works
Oh yes!
got a fitting session in a couple of weeks in a place in Brighton, not bespoke so to speak but made to measure with lots of options. Can't wait to try the finished article.
I want the full twig and googleberry's, which I believe is about £3k from Gieves & Hawkes in Saville Row.
Trouble is I spend so much on really flash suits and shoes etc, then pull up in a rusty MkII Golf
Need a DB5 really, anyone willing to lend me one for a couple of years in the name of fashion?
KingRichard said:
I want the full twig and googleberry's, which I believe is about £3k from Gieves & Hawkes in Saville Row.
Trouble is I spend so much on really flash suits and shoes etc, then pull up in a rusty MkII Golf
Need a DB5 really, anyone willing to lend me one for a couple of years in the name of fashion?
If you going for the G&H full monty then it must be a Bristol!
bga said:
I want the full twig and googleberry's, which I believe is about £3k from Gieves & Hawkes in Saville Row.
Trouble is I spend so much on really flash suits and shoes etc, then pull up in a rusty MkII Golf
Need a DB5 really, anyone willing to lend me one for a couple of years in the name of fashion?
If you going for the G&H full monty then it must be a Bristol!
They use a Bristol for most of the Paul Smith advertising, a 401 I think. I read FHM collections too much
An Alvis TD21 DHC would look dapper as well.
Have to admit I was tempted by braces the other day
KingRichard said:
Suits used to confuse the hell out of me. If one make fits, why doesn't another in the same size?
I bought some chinos and liked them so much I went back and got two more pairs in different colours and although they say they are the same size the two newer ones are a tighter fit and this is from the same shop
cotty said:
Suits used to confuse the hell out of me. If one make fits, why doesn't another in the same size?
I bought some chinos and liked them so much I went back and got two more pairs in different colours and although they say they are the same size the two newer ones are a tighter fit and this is from the same shop
Yeah I get that with jeans. I bought some G-Star jeans about 6 months ago which have been brilliant. went back to the same shop and saw they had brought out exactly the same design of trousers but in a really funky moleskin tan colour. Bought them on the spot, same size.
Too bloody long by about two inches. And being light trousers the bottoms get filthy when I'm on the beer and look rotten
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